Taxi license checks: Hull cab driver launches petition after rape caseCALLS are growing for tighter security checks after a licensed taxi driver was convicted of raping a young woman.
Hadi Mohammed, a driver with Hull firm 60-60-60, was jailed for raping the 18-year-old when he picked her up in city centre.
He was vetted by Hull City Council but not seen as a danger and granted a taxi licence.
Now, black cab driver Peter Nilsson has launched an online petition demanding better checks.
Mr Nilsson said: "If a foreign national comes into this country a check should be done on them.
"Unless they can provide evidence from their own country the legislation should prevent authorities in this country from granting them a licence."
All new drivers have enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks revealing previous convictions to discover if they might be a danger to the public.
But immigrants to Hull and the East Riding are not always subject to the same background checks in their home countries.
Instead, embassies can supply a letter confirming they are safe.
But Mr Nilsson does not believe that is good enough.
He said: "The council are tied. They have to follow the legislation to the letter of the law.
"Because of that they're issuing badges to people who should never be getting badges."
Mr Nilsson's petition already has more than 100 signatures.
He hopes to speak at a Hull City Council meeting on Thursday, October 18.
And councillor Nadine Fudge, chair of the licensing committee, said she is going to ask the council to lobby for a change in the law.
She said: "I'm bringing a motion up about it – not just for foreign people but for anyone who comes into the country after spending time abroad.
"It will ask the Government to look into the legislation.
"We have to abide by our legislation – we can't help that."
Her calls echo concerns voiced earlier this week by Kevin Marsh, manager of 57 Taxis.
He said: "The council needs to look at another way of doing it.
"At the moment, once they come to your office with a taxi badge, as far as anyone's concerned, they're safe to drive.
"We want to make the council aware that maybe foreign drivers shouldn't be able to drive for five or ten years."
As reported previously, Mohammed picked up his victim and a male friend illegally after a night out.
Mohammed insisted on dropping her friend off in Bransholme before driving to her home in west Hull.
But on the way Mohammed pulled over, climbed into the back and carried out the horrifying attack.
Following a trial, he was jailed for eight years at Bradford Crown Court.
Visit
http://www.nocrbnobadge.co.uk to sign Mr Nilsson's petition. He is also on Twitter @NoCRBNoBadge
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